The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-07-09
MET BY CHANCE.
BY GERALDINE FLEMING.


'Is It raining yet, Viola?" came in petu-
liant tones from big maroon-and- orange
Turkish chair. where handsome Evalihe
Markham was reclining, her fastidiously-
slippered feet elevated on do~hy otto
man, her rose cashmere morning-wrapper
falling in negligent folds about her languid
figure.
Her companion replied in the affirma.
live.
"Well, l do wish it would clear up" she
continued querulpusly. st has been 10th
ing but rain, rain for the last three days.
One can't shop, or visit, or do anything but
SIT in the house and perish with ennui.
Have you finished my letters. Viola?''
"Ihave this moment addressed the last"
answered the sweet, quiet voice of the pale,
black-robed girl at the opposite end of the
richiy-furnished room.
"Then do try and amuse me. Play
something, OF sing something!-anything
YOU like!'
Viola silently took her place before the
piano. and moment later burst of melo-
dy mingled with the ceascless drip and pat
ter of the rain.
She possessed fine voice, and accom-
panied herself very prettily; and time
passed on swift and happy wings when
thus occupied.
1t was the only agreeable duty amid the
multitude of irksone ones which had been
imposed upon her since she had become
the hired companion of the handsome Mis-.
Markham.
But presently at the close of one of Mis-,
Markhanl's favorlte pieces, peculiarly
somnolent sound diverted her attention, and
she glanced toward the Turkish chair tC
perceive that the afflicted victim of emu
had been soothed into midday slumber.
viola's lovely lips curled with quiet scorr
as she glanced at the indoleht figure, bu
the scorn changed to look of pehsivt
yearning as she turned her large soft eye,
toward the window and the drenched spring
world outside.
Her thoughts had gone back to another
day like this--s aceting day. wherein sh,
had lived the one romance of her youhl
life.
On that other rainy day a.year ago sh,
was sitting in the coach Of a railway train
and beside her sat one whose image woul,
live In her memory until life should be n,
more.
And she owed her life to bim-to thi
knightly man whose splendid form ant
noble face dwelt ever in her mind.
At the very outset of that rainy day
journey he had snatched her from the yer,
grasp Of death.
She had mistaken her train; in her hast
TO correct the error, she had rushed to tn
platform of the car just as it was starting
In her hurry she did not heed that anothe
had started in an opposite direction, an,
that she was directly in Its path.
As she perceived her deadly peril, sh
hesitated, bewildsred with her sudden tel
ror.
A moment more and the locomotiY
would have been upon her; the steam fror
Its iron throat swept seorchlngly about heI
the glittering bulk was so near she coul
have touched 1t as, with dazed cry, sh
flung forth her helpless hands.
But at the instant her stranger knigt
swung himself downward from the moyin
platform opposite, stretched one stron
arm toward her, clasped her firmly and {
drew her rp beside him.
30 they had met; and by chance the
had been occupants Of the same seat in Il
crowded coach during all that long day
Journey across the green country, q
drenched with the sllvery spring rain.
So they had met and parted-Viola 10
aine and her stranger-knight, whose We
name was unknown TO her.
But there never eaine a day when d
sllYery rains dripped and pattered again
roof and pane, that she did not recall
kind eyes. his beautiful smile, and his lO'
i Of tender regret when they had touch
= each others hands lingeIlngly in th'
farewell.
Almost unconsciously as she mused, b
ID fingers hovered over the piano keys, a
"a "a her soft voice sang the lines:
OF "Alasl how easily things go wrong
&c A sigh too much or a kiss too long
a. And there comes a mist and a weeping raj
Ana life a neveK fha saune again